If you frequently ask friends to repeat themselves you could be suffering from hearing loss, and you would not be alone. Research shows that hearing loss is prevalent among a third of all adults over age 65, and nearly half of those aged 75 and above.
Hearing loss is often ignored, even though there is a growing body of scientific evidence that shows that untreated hearing loss can play a significant role in the onset of dementia in older adults. Back in 2012, a study called ‘Hearing Loss and Incident Dementia’ published in the
US National Library of Medicine pointed out that “Hearing loss is independently associated with incident all-cause dementia. Whether hearing loss is a marker for early-stage dementia or is actually a modifiable risk factor for dementia deserves further study.” Yet, if treated in time, hearing loss could be delayed or prevented.